NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Molecular diagnostics firm Cepheid today said that it has received the CE Mark for its test that rapidly identifies the vanA and/or vanB genes, which are most commonly associated with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based firm also said that it has launched the Xpert vanA/vanB test, which provides results in 45 minutes and runs on the company’s GeneXpert System. It is the first test developed and manufactured by Cepheid’s Swedish subsidiary, Cepheid AB.
The test will compete with another molecular diagnostic test, the BD GeneOhm VanR assay, which also detects vanA and vanB genes and is sold by Becton Dickinson. BD received the CE Mark for its test earlier this year.
Cepheid cited figures from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System showing that VRE outbreaks increased in Europe from 3.3 percent in 2001 to 7.8 percent in 2004. Immunocompromised patients are at particular risk for VRE infections, which can cause wound, urinary tract, and intraabdominal infections, in addition to bacteremia and endocarditis.
“A rapid test for detection of drug resistance genes associated with VRE has the potential to significantly improve the way hospital surveillance is done for this group of organisms,” Fred Tenover, senior director of scientific affairs at Cepheid, said in a statement.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Telechem, BioSystems International to Collaborate on Proteome Microarray
NEW YORK – Integrated Media Holdings today said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Telechem International, has entered into an exclusive agreement with BioSystems International to make and sell microarrays featuring antibodies that identify proteins uniquely expressed in human plasma.
Under the pact, BSI will provide normal human plasma-profiling monoclonal antibodies. Telechem, which also operates under the name Arrayit, will use its microarray technology to print the antibodies onto glass slides. It also will market the Human Plasma Proteome Microarray through its existing network of worldwide marketing partners.
“This unique approach of using novel antibodies to detect human plasma proteins will speed the research and identification of biomarkers for early-stage disease diagnostics,” Telechem CEO Rene Schena said in a statement.
The partners expect the first microarrays from the collaboration to be available next quarter.
Source: GenomeWeb News
Under the pact, BSI will provide normal human plasma-profiling monoclonal antibodies. Telechem, which also operates under the name Arrayit, will use its microarray technology to print the antibodies onto glass slides. It also will market the Human Plasma Proteome Microarray through its existing network of worldwide marketing partners.
“This unique approach of using novel antibodies to detect human plasma proteins will speed the research and identification of biomarkers for early-stage disease diagnostics,” Telechem CEO Rene Schena said in a statement.
The partners expect the first microarrays from the collaboration to be available next quarter.
Source: GenomeWeb News
Saturday, September 27, 2008
CH2M Hill wins Vancouver Wastewater Contract
September 08 - Canada - CH2M Hill has been chosen by Metro Vancouver to undertake planning and conceptual engineering for the Iona island wastewater treatment plant in Vancouver, British Columbia. As main consultant the company will develop plans for the upgrade and will examine enhancements such as beneficial reuse of solid and liquid effluent byproducts, energy conservation and reuse, and community access to educational and environmental features of the site and surrounding area. The study will also address new building regulations that take into consideration the seismic activity in the project’s area.
Dow reaches RO research agreement
September 08 - USA- Dow Water Solutions has reached a multi-year joint development partnership with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and University of Texas at Austin. Under the agreement, Dow Water Solutions will collaborate with Virginia Tech and UT on the research and development of oxidation-resistant reverse osmosis membranes. The joint partnership will tackle one of the toughest technical challenges in the desalination industry, developing oxidation-resistant, or chlorine-resistant, RO membranes that will simplify the water treatment process and convert highly-contaminated waters into potable water sources.
Faster Flu Test
Infectious Disease Specialists Design New Rapid Flu Test
— New flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes, to cut down on needless antibiotic use, which can build up resistance and make some infections untreatable by current methods.
Every year, up to one in five Americans will get the flu. It's not always easy to make an accurate diagnosis and as many as 90 percent of patients who really have the flu will be prescribed antibiotics, drugs that will not help flu viruses. New, faster flu tests will help doctors diagnose patients quicker, which can cut down on needless antibiotic use.
When patients take antibiotics that they don't need, it leads to antibiotic resistance. Ann Falsey, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York, says, "It's a huge problem. There are some bacteria which have become resistant to all antibiotics."
Now, with a simple swab of the nose, rapid flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes compared to the usual five days. Dr. Falsey told DBIS, "I think the big advantage would be to cut down on needless antibiotic use."
Dr. Falsey found using rapid flu tests reduced the number of antibiotics prescribed and used. She says, "The doctors less-frequently prescribed antibiotics, and if they had started them on antibiotics, when the test came back, then they stopped the antibiotics."
Most hospitals are using rapid flu tests, but the tests are not common in doctor's offices yet. According to Dr. Falsey, that's where they'll have the most impact. The tests will also confirm the need for anti-viral medications, the only drugs that actually help the flu. Dr. Falsey says not every virus is influenza, so the rapid flu test won't provide all the information a doctor needs. However, researchers are hoping to develop rapid tests like these to identify other viruses, like corona viruses and rhino viruses.
The American Society for Microbiology contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
BACKGROUND: New tests to rapidly detect the flu are allowing doctors to cut down on the number of hospital patients who receive antibiotics, helping soften the rapidly worsening threat of antibiotic resistance. Doctors are less likely to prescribe antibiotics, which work on bacteria but not viruses, if there is documented evidence that a patient has the flu -- which is caused by a virus -- and not a bacterial infection. The research was done by infection control experts at Rochester General Hospital in New York.
ABOUT THE STUDY: The Rochester scientists analyzed the records of 166 patients who had the flu when they were hospitalized. Eighty-six of the patients tested positive with the rapid test, which gives an answer within minutes, while the other 80 either tested negative or did not have the test done. When they checked the later treatment, they found that 86% of patients whose flu was confirmed early on were treated with antibiotics, compared to 99% of patients whose flu was not identified immediately. The overuse of antibiotics makes patients and the community more vulnerable to microbes resistant to most treatments. Yet doctors often prescribe antibiotics in case patients also have a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, in addition to the flu.
WHAT IS THE FLU: The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which targets the respiratory tract by binding to the surface of cells. Then the virus releases its genetic information into the cell's nucleus to replicate itself. When the cell dies, those copies are released into the body, infecting other cells. Flu symptoms are unpleasant, but not life-threatening by themselves. However, the flu weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to more serious infections, such as pneumonia. Because the flu is caused by a virus -- as opposed to bacteria -- antibiotics are not an effective treatment. Both the flu and the common cold are best treated by bed rest, consuming lots of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medication to ease symptoms until the virus runs its course.
ORIGINAL ANTIGENIC SIN: Original antigenic sin occurs when the antibodies produced by the body's immune system to fight exposure to the flu virus become part of the body's "memory" so that it can fight off future exposure the same flu strain. The problem is that those same antibodies end up suppressing the creation of new antibodies when the body is exposed to a new strain of the flu, making last year's flu vaccine ineffective against the newer strain. The phenomenon has also been observed in dengue fever and HIV, among other viruses.
Originally posted May 20007
Source: Science Daily
— New flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes, to cut down on needless antibiotic use, which can build up resistance and make some infections untreatable by current methods.
Every year, up to one in five Americans will get the flu. It's not always easy to make an accurate diagnosis and as many as 90 percent of patients who really have the flu will be prescribed antibiotics, drugs that will not help flu viruses. New, faster flu tests will help doctors diagnose patients quicker, which can cut down on needless antibiotic use.
When patients take antibiotics that they don't need, it leads to antibiotic resistance. Ann Falsey, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York, says, "It's a huge problem. There are some bacteria which have become resistant to all antibiotics."
Now, with a simple swab of the nose, rapid flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes compared to the usual five days. Dr. Falsey told DBIS, "I think the big advantage would be to cut down on needless antibiotic use."
Dr. Falsey found using rapid flu tests reduced the number of antibiotics prescribed and used. She says, "The doctors less-frequently prescribed antibiotics, and if they had started them on antibiotics, when the test came back, then they stopped the antibiotics."
Most hospitals are using rapid flu tests, but the tests are not common in doctor's offices yet. According to Dr. Falsey, that's where they'll have the most impact. The tests will also confirm the need for anti-viral medications, the only drugs that actually help the flu. Dr. Falsey says not every virus is influenza, so the rapid flu test won't provide all the information a doctor needs. However, researchers are hoping to develop rapid tests like these to identify other viruses, like corona viruses and rhino viruses.
The American Society for Microbiology contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
BACKGROUND: New tests to rapidly detect the flu are allowing doctors to cut down on the number of hospital patients who receive antibiotics, helping soften the rapidly worsening threat of antibiotic resistance. Doctors are less likely to prescribe antibiotics, which work on bacteria but not viruses, if there is documented evidence that a patient has the flu -- which is caused by a virus -- and not a bacterial infection. The research was done by infection control experts at Rochester General Hospital in New York.
ABOUT THE STUDY: The Rochester scientists analyzed the records of 166 patients who had the flu when they were hospitalized. Eighty-six of the patients tested positive with the rapid test, which gives an answer within minutes, while the other 80 either tested negative or did not have the test done. When they checked the later treatment, they found that 86% of patients whose flu was confirmed early on were treated with antibiotics, compared to 99% of patients whose flu was not identified immediately. The overuse of antibiotics makes patients and the community more vulnerable to microbes resistant to most treatments. Yet doctors often prescribe antibiotics in case patients also have a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, in addition to the flu.
WHAT IS THE FLU: The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which targets the respiratory tract by binding to the surface of cells. Then the virus releases its genetic information into the cell's nucleus to replicate itself. When the cell dies, those copies are released into the body, infecting other cells. Flu symptoms are unpleasant, but not life-threatening by themselves. However, the flu weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to more serious infections, such as pneumonia. Because the flu is caused by a virus -- as opposed to bacteria -- antibiotics are not an effective treatment. Both the flu and the common cold are best treated by bed rest, consuming lots of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medication to ease symptoms until the virus runs its course.
ORIGINAL ANTIGENIC SIN: Original antigenic sin occurs when the antibodies produced by the body's immune system to fight exposure to the flu virus become part of the body's "memory" so that it can fight off future exposure the same flu strain. The problem is that those same antibodies end up suppressing the creation of new antibodies when the body is exposed to a new strain of the flu, making last year's flu vaccine ineffective against the newer strain. The phenomenon has also been observed in dengue fever and HIV, among other viruses.
Originally posted May 20007
Source: Science Daily
India praised for water testing technology
India was praised for its "constructive and thought-provoking inputs" into the functioning of U N environment and habitat agencies in Nairobi recently, with its innovative water testing technology being particularly appreciated by countries. Klaus Toepfer, the director general of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNION), said: "India has been playing a very positive and constructive role in HABITAT's (U N Centre for Human Settlements--UNCHS-HABITAT) ultimate objective of shelter for all. "Although we are still far from achieving that goal, Dr Arcot Ramachandran of India, the first executive director of HABITAT from the day it was established in 1978, gave the U N body a sense of purpose and a direction which we are trying to follow until today," he said.
Toepfer, who is also executive director of the U N Environment Programme (UNEP) and acting executive director of HABITAT, was speaking at a reception of diplomats hosted by India's High Commissioner to Kenya Rajiv Bhatia, who is the country's permanentrepresentative to the UNION. The reception was held in honour of visiting Urban Development minister Ram Jethmalani, who was in Nairobi to participate in the 17th session of the Commission on Human Settlements, the governing body for HABITAT.
Toepfer said Jethmalani had announced a contribution of $1 million by New Delhi for the 1999 programme of HABITAT, whose total budget for the 1999-2000 biennium is $20 million. He also praised Jethmalani for his "moving and inspirational address to the delegates which set the tone of the deliberations during the remaining part of the session." Toepfer said delegates were particularly impressed by India's water-testing technology. "In fact, the various delegates and Kenyan government officials are going to make a presentation of 24 India-made water-testing kits to a Nairobi NGO for distribution to six schools in a slum area," he said.
The water-testing kit, an innovation by an Indian NGO called Development Alternatives, is small, portable and durable, "and has beenthoroughly tested by schools in New Delhi," he added.
Toepfer said, "Use of the kits in slums will inspire similar efforts by schools in other communities and countries in Africa and the findings could re-focus water policy and budget priorities throughout the continent."
Source: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Toepfer, who is also executive director of the U N Environment Programme (UNEP) and acting executive director of HABITAT, was speaking at a reception of diplomats hosted by India's High Commissioner to Kenya Rajiv Bhatia, who is the country's permanentrepresentative to the UNION. The reception was held in honour of visiting Urban Development minister Ram Jethmalani, who was in Nairobi to participate in the 17th session of the Commission on Human Settlements, the governing body for HABITAT.
Toepfer said Jethmalani had announced a contribution of $1 million by New Delhi for the 1999 programme of HABITAT, whose total budget for the 1999-2000 biennium is $20 million. He also praised Jethmalani for his "moving and inspirational address to the delegates which set the tone of the deliberations during the remaining part of the session." Toepfer said delegates were particularly impressed by India's water-testing technology. "In fact, the various delegates and Kenyan government officials are going to make a presentation of 24 India-made water-testing kits to a Nairobi NGO for distribution to six schools in a slum area," he said.
The water-testing kit, an innovation by an Indian NGO called Development Alternatives, is small, portable and durable, "and has beenthoroughly tested by schools in New Delhi," he added.
Toepfer said, "Use of the kits in slums will inspire similar efforts by schools in other communities and countries in Africa and the findings could re-focus water policy and budget priorities throughout the continent."
Source: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Roche Gets FDA Clearance for Hepatitis B PCR Test
September 4, 2008
NEW YORK – Roche has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its Cobas TaqMan HBV Test, the firm said today.
The test uses real-time PCR to quantify the amount of hepatitis B virus DNA in a patient’s blood. It may be used by physicians to determine a baseline level of infection and thereafter as an aid in assessing a patient’s response to therapy.
According to Roche, it is the first hepatitis B viral load test approved for marketing by the FDA.
Roche’s real-time HIV test was cleared by the FDA in May 2007, and the firm has filed for clearance of its quantitative HCV test.
Source: -GenomeWeb News
NEW YORK – Roche has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its Cobas TaqMan HBV Test, the firm said today.
The test uses real-time PCR to quantify the amount of hepatitis B virus DNA in a patient’s blood. It may be used by physicians to determine a baseline level of infection and thereafter as an aid in assessing a patient’s response to therapy.
According to Roche, it is the first hepatitis B viral load test approved for marketing by the FDA.
Roche’s real-time HIV test was cleared by the FDA in May 2007, and the firm has filed for clearance of its quantitative HCV test.
Source: -GenomeWeb News
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Pall Acquires French Molecular Dx Firm
September 3, 2008
NEW YORK – Pall said today that it has acquired French molecular diagnostics firm GeneSystems for an undisclosed sum.
Bruz, France-based GeneSystems has developed a real-time PCR-based molecular diagnostics platform for rapid microbial detection. The firm offers tests for a range of pathogens including Legionella and E. coli.
Pall said the acquisition will expand its Total Fluid Management capabilities in the biopharmaceutical process monitoring market, which it estimated to be worth $1 billion. The East Hills, NY-based firm said that it also would provide it with new opportunities in the environmental, food and beverage, and water markets.
Source: Genome Web News
NEW YORK – Pall said today that it has acquired French molecular diagnostics firm GeneSystems for an undisclosed sum.
Bruz, France-based GeneSystems has developed a real-time PCR-based molecular diagnostics platform for rapid microbial detection. The firm offers tests for a range of pathogens including Legionella and E. coli.
Pall said the acquisition will expand its Total Fluid Management capabilities in the biopharmaceutical process monitoring market, which it estimated to be worth $1 billion. The East Hills, NY-based firm said that it also would provide it with new opportunities in the environmental, food and beverage, and water markets.
Source: Genome Web News
Friday, August 29, 2008
New tool can determine a building’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions
Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), the world’s leading provider of Building Performance Analysis tools to the building design and refurbishment industry, has launched a plug-in to Google SketchUpTM, a free, easy-to-learn 3D design tool from Google. This plug-in links directly to IES’s free VE-Ware tool which accurately determines the Energy Use and associated Carbon Dioxide Emissions for any building, in any part of the world. This exciting new development means that anyone can pick up these FREE tools and start analysing how their home, office or school performs. So whether you’re a self builder or architect wanting to take energy consumption into account during design, a property developer, facilities manager, a student undertaking a project, or you’re just plain interested, it is now possible to scientifically analyse for FREE how much energy a building uses and how that translates to associated carbon emissions. You can even look at how modifications will affect the outcome.
VE-Ware is not just another carbon calculator. Its calculation engine is part of the IES Virtual Environment, which is an industry respected building performance analysis tool used by the world’s top architectural and engineering firms in the design of low-energy buildings. The calculations are based on real geometry, international data on local climate and weather conditions and the typical characteristics of different building, room and heating and cooling system types.
Dr. Don McLean, the Founder and MD of IES, commented: “I’m incredibly excited by today’s launch, in many ways it’s a culmination of 14 years of work. When I founded IES in 1994 my aim was to develop what were primarily academic tools and bring them into mainstream use. Buildings are incredibly important in mitigating climate change – they account for around 40% of global CO2 emissions, but at the same time it is this sector which is the most cost effective when it comes to reducing those emissions. VE-Ware and our link to Google SketchUp gives everyone the capability to get involved and really opens the door wide to the incredible mitigation potential building performance analysis offers.”
HOW TO DETERMINE A BUILDING’S ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS FOR FREE IN 5 EASY STEPS...
1. Model your building in Google SketchUp
2. Open VE-Ware and tell it where your building is in the world
3. Define your: Building type
Construction materials
Heating and cooling system types
Room types
4. Press a button - automatic detailed thermal simulation is
performed for you
5. Get output on: Energy consumption
CO2 emissions
US benchmark against the Architecture 2030
(Zero-Carbon) ChallengeIn addition, if you want to modify your building and assess what impact different options have on these factors, all you have to do is go back and make the required amends to the model or construction materials, etc. and re-run the analysis.
VE-Ware is available to download from: www.iesve.com/ve-ware
Google SketchUp is available to download from: http://sketchup.google.com/
The IES and Google SketchUp connectivity:
The direct link to VE-Ware takes the form of a Toolbar that sits within the SketchUp application. It is compatible with both the Free and Pro versions of Google SketchUp. The Toolbar also links to IES’s other more detailed building performance analysis tools: the VE-Toolkits and the full Virtual Environment. For many architects and other professionals in the building design and management industry, this level of integration with a mass market design tool is what they have been waiting for – it allows empowering analysis to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons. See the associated press release on the IES Google SketchUp plug-in for more information.
John Bacus, Product Manager of Google SketchUp, commented: “With SketchUp, we dreamed of a simple tool that would give people the ability to think fast and iterate often on complex building design problems. With this release, IES is plugging a set of energy analysis tools into SketchUp at just the right level of complexity — enabling designers to think not just about how a building might look, but also how it will perform in a sustainable world.”
This launch is a public beta and is being refined over the coming months.
About Building Performance Analysis:
Building performance analysis allows the study of how the orientation, shape, construction materials and room positioning etc. impacts on energy use and occupant comfort. It also allows you to determine how effective solar shading, natural ventilation and other passive design strategies will be, and the feasibility of using innovative low-energy technologies and renewable energy sources.
About IES:
Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) Ltd. is a company at the forefront of the use and development of powerful building performance simulation tools:
VE-Ware: Free energy and carbon analysis tool which makes basic performance analysis widely available to anyone;
VE-Toolkits: mid-level tools that allow a variety of early stage sustainability energy, carbon, solar and daylight analyses to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons;
The full VE: a powerful integrated suite of highly detailed performance analysis tools.
www.iesve.com
Google and Google SketchUp are licensed trademarks of Google Inc.
Source: Business Wire
Published Aug. 26, 2008
VE-Ware is not just another carbon calculator. Its calculation engine is part of the IES Virtual Environment, which is an industry respected building performance analysis tool used by the world’s top architectural and engineering firms in the design of low-energy buildings. The calculations are based on real geometry, international data on local climate and weather conditions and the typical characteristics of different building, room and heating and cooling system types.
Dr. Don McLean, the Founder and MD of IES, commented: “I’m incredibly excited by today’s launch, in many ways it’s a culmination of 14 years of work. When I founded IES in 1994 my aim was to develop what were primarily academic tools and bring them into mainstream use. Buildings are incredibly important in mitigating climate change – they account for around 40% of global CO2 emissions, but at the same time it is this sector which is the most cost effective when it comes to reducing those emissions. VE-Ware and our link to Google SketchUp gives everyone the capability to get involved and really opens the door wide to the incredible mitigation potential building performance analysis offers.”
HOW TO DETERMINE A BUILDING’S ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS FOR FREE IN 5 EASY STEPS...
1. Model your building in Google SketchUp
2. Open VE-Ware and tell it where your building is in the world
3. Define your: Building type
Construction materials
Heating and cooling system types
Room types
4. Press a button - automatic detailed thermal simulation is
performed for you
5. Get output on: Energy consumption
CO2 emissions
US benchmark against the Architecture 2030
(Zero-Carbon) ChallengeIn addition, if you want to modify your building and assess what impact different options have on these factors, all you have to do is go back and make the required amends to the model or construction materials, etc. and re-run the analysis.
VE-Ware is available to download from: www.iesve.com/ve-ware
Google SketchUp is available to download from: http://sketchup.google.com/
The IES and Google SketchUp connectivity:
The direct link to VE-Ware takes the form of a Toolbar that sits within the SketchUp application. It is compatible with both the Free and Pro versions of Google SketchUp. The Toolbar also links to IES’s other more detailed building performance analysis tools: the VE-Toolkits and the full Virtual Environment. For many architects and other professionals in the building design and management industry, this level of integration with a mass market design tool is what they have been waiting for – it allows empowering analysis to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons. See the associated press release on the IES Google SketchUp plug-in for more information.
John Bacus, Product Manager of Google SketchUp, commented: “With SketchUp, we dreamed of a simple tool that would give people the ability to think fast and iterate often on complex building design problems. With this release, IES is plugging a set of energy analysis tools into SketchUp at just the right level of complexity — enabling designers to think not just about how a building might look, but also how it will perform in a sustainable world.”
This launch is a public beta and is being refined over the coming months.
About Building Performance Analysis:
Building performance analysis allows the study of how the orientation, shape, construction materials and room positioning etc. impacts on energy use and occupant comfort. It also allows you to determine how effective solar shading, natural ventilation and other passive design strategies will be, and the feasibility of using innovative low-energy technologies and renewable energy sources.
About IES:
Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) Ltd. is a company at the forefront of the use and development of powerful building performance simulation tools:
VE-Ware: Free energy and carbon analysis tool which makes basic performance analysis widely available to anyone;
VE-Toolkits: mid-level tools that allow a variety of early stage sustainability energy, carbon, solar and daylight analyses to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons;
The full VE: a powerful integrated suite of highly detailed performance analysis tools.
www.iesve.com
Google and Google SketchUp are licensed trademarks of Google Inc.
Source: Business Wire
Published Aug. 26, 2008
Australian decision validates EOS® Patent
EOS Remediation, LLC, a developer and manufacturer of advanced technologies for groundwater restoration, announced that it has received a decision from the Australian Patent Office validating Solutions-IES’ Australian Patent Application No. 782548 for groundwater bioremediation using emulsified oils. EOS Remediation is Solutions-IES’ exclusive licensee for this technology.
This win for EOS Remediation is the latest in a string of recent successes. 'The grant of our Australian Patent was opposed by William A. Newman. We are pleased that we successfully defended the validity of our application,” said Dr. Robert C. Borden, P.E. “The decision vindicates our position that the intellectual property disclosed is novel and non-obvious. The Australian Patent Office has affirmed that our patent covers the use of oil emulsions for aquifer bioremediation where the oil droplets are smaller than the aquifer pores.' EOS Remediation is the only company licensed by Solutions-IES to apply this innovative and effective process.
The use of emulsified oils, EOS®, for groundwater bioremediation is a significant advancement in the treatment of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents, energetic materials, nitrates, oxidized heavy metals, and radionuclides. The proven EOS® Technology substantially reduces the cost to restore contaminated aquifers.
EOS Remediation uses sustainable green chemistry in its family of groundwater bioremediation products. The addition of emulsified vegetable oils provides food for the microorganisms and stimulates biodegradation activity. The EOS® Technology has successfully turned land once deemed unusable into productive and safe real estate. The company annually completes more than 200 projects worldwide. Since first developed by Dr. Borden in 1999, millions of pounds of EOS® have been successfully applied at sites throughout the world.
Source: EOS Remediation, LLC
This win for EOS Remediation is the latest in a string of recent successes. 'The grant of our Australian Patent was opposed by William A. Newman. We are pleased that we successfully defended the validity of our application,” said Dr. Robert C. Borden, P.E. “The decision vindicates our position that the intellectual property disclosed is novel and non-obvious. The Australian Patent Office has affirmed that our patent covers the use of oil emulsions for aquifer bioremediation where the oil droplets are smaller than the aquifer pores.' EOS Remediation is the only company licensed by Solutions-IES to apply this innovative and effective process.
The use of emulsified oils, EOS®, for groundwater bioremediation is a significant advancement in the treatment of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents, energetic materials, nitrates, oxidized heavy metals, and radionuclides. The proven EOS® Technology substantially reduces the cost to restore contaminated aquifers.
EOS Remediation uses sustainable green chemistry in its family of groundwater bioremediation products. The addition of emulsified vegetable oils provides food for the microorganisms and stimulates biodegradation activity. The EOS® Technology has successfully turned land once deemed unusable into productive and safe real estate. The company annually completes more than 200 projects worldwide. Since first developed by Dr. Borden in 1999, millions of pounds of EOS® have been successfully applied at sites throughout the world.
Source: EOS Remediation, LLC
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Food scientists confirm commercial product effectively kills bacteria in vegetable washwater
Research conducted by food science faculty at the University of Idaho and Washington State University indicate that a commercially available fruit and vegetable wash, when used in a food-manufacturing setting, can dramatically decrease the number of disease-causing organisms in produce-processing washwater. That could reduce by manyfold the potential for cross-contamination within the water by such "gram-negative" bacteria as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.
The product, sold commercially as FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash, not only proved much more effective than the commonly used chlorine dioxide but is made from ingredients like citric acid and distilled grapefruit oil that are generally regarded as safe. Chlorine dioxide, whose use in food plants can put workers at risk, was compromised by soils and plant debris in the washwater and killed only 90 percent of the target organisms in the food plant and followup laboratory studies. By contrast, FIT killed 99.9999 percent, according to associate professor of food science Dong-Hyun Kang of Washington State University. "If you had a million bacteria, you would have one left."
The research—unusual because part of it was conducted under real-world conditions in an Idaho freshpack potato operation—will be published by the Journal of Food Science in August and is currently available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jfds/0/0. University of Idaho Extension food scientist Jeff Kronenberg said the researchers chose potatoes for their study because their dirt-laden washwater poses the greatest challenge to products designed to control microbial contamination—not because of any food-safety threat potatoes pose. Indeed, Kronenberg said, "We have historically had zero problems with food-borne diseases in potatoes that are sold in grocery stores and restaurants because they're cooked."
Kronenberg believes FIT should be further investigated for fresh produce that has been associated with food-borne illness—including lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley and other leafy vegetables—where it is has the potential to save lives.
According to Kang, most food-processing firms cleanse their produce in flumes that operate as aquatic conveyor belts. "If a pathogen is introduced in the washwater, it will grow and continuously contaminate the new produce," he said. With 15 years of experience, Kang has found it "very, very difficult" to control disease-causing organisms in flume water and said he "didn't expect this kind of reduction. I'm really happy to see it."
WSU research technologist Peter Gray agreed, noting that the bacteria were "knocked down below the detection limit almost instantaneously" in the FIT treatments.
Source : University of Idaho
The product, sold commercially as FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash, not only proved much more effective than the commonly used chlorine dioxide but is made from ingredients like citric acid and distilled grapefruit oil that are generally regarded as safe. Chlorine dioxide, whose use in food plants can put workers at risk, was compromised by soils and plant debris in the washwater and killed only 90 percent of the target organisms in the food plant and followup laboratory studies. By contrast, FIT killed 99.9999 percent, according to associate professor of food science Dong-Hyun Kang of Washington State University. "If you had a million bacteria, you would have one left."
The research—unusual because part of it was conducted under real-world conditions in an Idaho freshpack potato operation—will be published by the Journal of Food Science in August and is currently available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jfds/0/0. University of Idaho Extension food scientist Jeff Kronenberg said the researchers chose potatoes for their study because their dirt-laden washwater poses the greatest challenge to products designed to control microbial contamination—not because of any food-safety threat potatoes pose. Indeed, Kronenberg said, "We have historically had zero problems with food-borne diseases in potatoes that are sold in grocery stores and restaurants because they're cooked."
Kronenberg believes FIT should be further investigated for fresh produce that has been associated with food-borne illness—including lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley and other leafy vegetables—where it is has the potential to save lives.
According to Kang, most food-processing firms cleanse their produce in flumes that operate as aquatic conveyor belts. "If a pathogen is introduced in the washwater, it will grow and continuously contaminate the new produce," he said. With 15 years of experience, Kang has found it "very, very difficult" to control disease-causing organisms in flume water and said he "didn't expect this kind of reduction. I'm really happy to see it."
WSU research technologist Peter Gray agreed, noting that the bacteria were "knocked down below the detection limit almost instantaneously" in the FIT treatments.
Source : University of Idaho
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Picarro Launches Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer With Unmatched Sensitivity and Simplicity
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug 18, 2008
-- The new Picarro L1102-i water isotope analyzer is the first instrument to combine simple, turnkey operation with the sensitivity and precision (delta-18 O < 0.1 parts per thousand, delta-D <0.5 parts per thousand) better than or equal to the IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometer) systems traditionally used in stable isotope labs. Moreover, this integrated, compact instrument provides simultaneous measurement of both delta-18 O and delta-D, directly from water samples, whereas IRMS requires either different chemical processes to separately measure these two ratios, or two different mass spectrometers. In addition to requiring no special training or setup, the Picarro L1102-i is fully automated for running large sample batches, requires little or no sample preparation, provides data in minutes and does not need frequent calibration because it has minimal memory and drift.
The heart of the Picarro L1102-i is the same WS-CRDS (wavelength-scanned cavity ring down spectroscopy) engine that is already field-proven in the company's CO2 and water vapor isotope analyzers. This new liquid water analyzer is equipped with a robust integrated robotic autosampler and vaporization accessory, which enables many samples to be analyzed in a single automated, hands-free sequence.
Michael Woelk, Picarro CEO explains, "Recognition of the utility of stable-isotope studies now spans applications as diverse as carbon/water cycle environmental studies, animal migration tracking, and human metabolic pathway research. Full exploitation of this potential requires easy and fast access to high quality isotope ratio data, but has been limited by the high cost and practical constraints of existing mass-spectrometry tools. We believe the advent of turn-key, cost-effective instruments that require no special training or sample handling is going to completely revolutionize this field, and more importantly, significantly expand the number of practical applications for stable isotope measurements."
The Picarro L1102-i has been extensively beta-tested at several labs specializing in stable isotope studies, including the Stable Isotope Lab at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado. Senior Scientist Bruce Vaughn at this lab notes, "Based on its performance in our laboratory, I truly feel this new instrument has the potential to transform the way the analytical world measures water isotopes."
Picarro, Inc. is a privately held company dedicated to developing instrumentation for the highest sensitivity, precision and accuracy measurements of specific molecules of interest in environmental analyses, process monitoring, and emissions control. The company is a leader in wavelength scanned cavity ring down spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) technology with eight exclusive licenses from Stanford University patents and nine of its own on WS-CRDS extensions.
SOURCE: Picarro, Inc.
-- The new Picarro L1102-i water isotope analyzer is the first instrument to combine simple, turnkey operation with the sensitivity and precision (delta-18 O < 0.1 parts per thousand, delta-D <0.5 parts per thousand) better than or equal to the IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometer) systems traditionally used in stable isotope labs. Moreover, this integrated, compact instrument provides simultaneous measurement of both delta-18 O and delta-D, directly from water samples, whereas IRMS requires either different chemical processes to separately measure these two ratios, or two different mass spectrometers. In addition to requiring no special training or setup, the Picarro L1102-i is fully automated for running large sample batches, requires little or no sample preparation, provides data in minutes and does not need frequent calibration because it has minimal memory and drift.
The heart of the Picarro L1102-i is the same WS-CRDS (wavelength-scanned cavity ring down spectroscopy) engine that is already field-proven in the company's CO2 and water vapor isotope analyzers. This new liquid water analyzer is equipped with a robust integrated robotic autosampler and vaporization accessory, which enables many samples to be analyzed in a single automated, hands-free sequence.
Michael Woelk, Picarro CEO explains, "Recognition of the utility of stable-isotope studies now spans applications as diverse as carbon/water cycle environmental studies, animal migration tracking, and human metabolic pathway research. Full exploitation of this potential requires easy and fast access to high quality isotope ratio data, but has been limited by the high cost and practical constraints of existing mass-spectrometry tools. We believe the advent of turn-key, cost-effective instruments that require no special training or sample handling is going to completely revolutionize this field, and more importantly, significantly expand the number of practical applications for stable isotope measurements."
The Picarro L1102-i has been extensively beta-tested at several labs specializing in stable isotope studies, including the Stable Isotope Lab at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado. Senior Scientist Bruce Vaughn at this lab notes, "Based on its performance in our laboratory, I truly feel this new instrument has the potential to transform the way the analytical world measures water isotopes."
Picarro, Inc. is a privately held company dedicated to developing instrumentation for the highest sensitivity, precision and accuracy measurements of specific molecules of interest in environmental analyses, process monitoring, and emissions control. The company is a leader in wavelength scanned cavity ring down spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) technology with eight exclusive licenses from Stanford University patents and nine of its own on WS-CRDS extensions.
SOURCE: Picarro, Inc.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
$298M for health research across Canada
Ottawa, ON - The federal government today officially announced funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for 764 health research projects across Canada, totalling over $298 million.
"The government of Canada is committed to investing in knowledge, science and innovation," said Tony Clement, federal health minister, in making the funding announcement. "In budget 2008, we increased CIHR's budget by $34 million and we made a number of other strategic investments designed to further strengthen Canada's research capacity."
Following is a provincial breakdown of funding by province, including the number of projects and total value in thousands of dollars:
- Alberta; 82; $34,881
- British Columbia; 113; $42,755
- Manitoba; 16; $7,772
- New Brunswick; 1; $81
- Newfoundland and Labrador; 4; $1,377
- Nova Scotia; 14; $4,466
- Ontario; 301; $120,206
- Prince Edward Island; 1; $3
- Québec; 217; $83,973
- Saskatchewan; 9; $2,791
- Outside Canada; 6; $116
- Total; 764; $298,421
The CIHR says that the number of new projects in this announcement represents funding decisions posted on its website between July 2007 and January 2008. It adds that the numbers will change over time as, for example, budgets and conditions for approved projects are finalized.
More information is available at the CIHR's website at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
"The government of Canada is committed to investing in knowledge, science and innovation," said Tony Clement, federal health minister, in making the funding announcement. "In budget 2008, we increased CIHR's budget by $34 million and we made a number of other strategic investments designed to further strengthen Canada's research capacity."
Following is a provincial breakdown of funding by province, including the number of projects and total value in thousands of dollars:
- Alberta; 82; $34,881
- British Columbia; 113; $42,755
- Manitoba; 16; $7,772
- New Brunswick; 1; $81
- Newfoundland and Labrador; 4; $1,377
- Nova Scotia; 14; $4,466
- Ontario; 301; $120,206
- Prince Edward Island; 1; $3
- Québec; 217; $83,973
- Saskatchewan; 9; $2,791
- Outside Canada; 6; $116
- Total; 764; $298,421
The CIHR says that the number of new projects in this announcement represents funding decisions posted on its website between July 2007 and January 2008. It adds that the numbers will change over time as, for example, budgets and conditions for approved projects are finalized.
More information is available at the CIHR's website at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
Canada - New Proposed Legislation to Improve Biosecurity and Lab Safety
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed legislation to improve lab safety and biosecurity
Ottawa, ON - In late April, Health Minister Tony Clement tabled legislation (Bill C-54) that is aimed at strengthening bio-security and biosafety in Canada by establishing consistent safety requirements for laboratories working with human pathogens and toxins.
"This proposed legislation will bring Canada into line with other developed nations," he said. "It will also make Canada's laboratory environment safer for our scientists and lab workers, and improve security for all Canadians."
The proposed bill establishes a mandatory licensing system to track human pathogens. It will also provide inspection powers to help ensure compliance with the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs), and that the legislation is applied properly and consistently across the country.
The proposed legislation builds on existing importation regulations and establishes legal prohibitions and authorities designed to ensure all work done with human pathogens and toxins is carried out in as safe a manner as possible, consistent with international standards.
The proposed legislation mandates the application of existing Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs) in all Canadian labs that possess human pathogens and toxins. The proposed legislation is the product of the Public Health Agency of Canada's extensive nationwide consultations with stakeholders, including scientists, lab workers, academics and bio-security experts.
Further to requiring adherence to the LBGs, the proposed legislation prohibits the following:
- possession of certain listed human pathogens and/or toxins (smallpox is currently the one pathogen on this list);
- the intentional misuse of human pathogens and/or toxins to cause risk of harm; and
- any use of human pathogens and/or toxins without a licence.
The government says the proposed legislation will bring Canada's laboratory legislation more in line with our international partners, including Australia, the UK, the US and other countries.
Table of Contents
Ottawa, ON - In late April, Health Minister Tony Clement tabled legislation (Bill C-54) that is aimed at strengthening bio-security and biosafety in Canada by establishing consistent safety requirements for laboratories working with human pathogens and toxins.
"This proposed legislation will bring Canada into line with other developed nations," he said. "It will also make Canada's laboratory environment safer for our scientists and lab workers, and improve security for all Canadians."
The proposed bill establishes a mandatory licensing system to track human pathogens. It will also provide inspection powers to help ensure compliance with the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs), and that the legislation is applied properly and consistently across the country.
The proposed legislation builds on existing importation regulations and establishes legal prohibitions and authorities designed to ensure all work done with human pathogens and toxins is carried out in as safe a manner as possible, consistent with international standards.
The proposed legislation mandates the application of existing Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs) in all Canadian labs that possess human pathogens and toxins. The proposed legislation is the product of the Public Health Agency of Canada's extensive nationwide consultations with stakeholders, including scientists, lab workers, academics and bio-security experts.
Further to requiring adherence to the LBGs, the proposed legislation prohibits the following:
- possession of certain listed human pathogens and/or toxins (smallpox is currently the one pathogen on this list);
- the intentional misuse of human pathogens and/or toxins to cause risk of harm; and
- any use of human pathogens and/or toxins without a licence.
The government says the proposed legislation will bring Canada's laboratory legislation more in line with our international partners, including Australia, the UK, the US and other countries.:
Source: Lab Canada
Proposed legislation to improve lab safety and biosecurity
Ottawa, ON - In late April, Health Minister Tony Clement tabled legislation (Bill C-54) that is aimed at strengthening bio-security and biosafety in Canada by establishing consistent safety requirements for laboratories working with human pathogens and toxins.
"This proposed legislation will bring Canada into line with other developed nations," he said. "It will also make Canada's laboratory environment safer for our scientists and lab workers, and improve security for all Canadians."
The proposed bill establishes a mandatory licensing system to track human pathogens. It will also provide inspection powers to help ensure compliance with the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs), and that the legislation is applied properly and consistently across the country.
The proposed legislation builds on existing importation regulations and establishes legal prohibitions and authorities designed to ensure all work done with human pathogens and toxins is carried out in as safe a manner as possible, consistent with international standards.
The proposed legislation mandates the application of existing Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs) in all Canadian labs that possess human pathogens and toxins. The proposed legislation is the product of the Public Health Agency of Canada's extensive nationwide consultations with stakeholders, including scientists, lab workers, academics and bio-security experts.
Further to requiring adherence to the LBGs, the proposed legislation prohibits the following:
- possession of certain listed human pathogens and/or toxins (smallpox is currently the one pathogen on this list);
- the intentional misuse of human pathogens and/or toxins to cause risk of harm; and
- any use of human pathogens and/or toxins without a licence.
The government says the proposed legislation will bring Canada's laboratory legislation more in line with our international partners, including Australia, the UK, the US and other countries.
Table of Contents
Ottawa, ON - In late April, Health Minister Tony Clement tabled legislation (Bill C-54) that is aimed at strengthening bio-security and biosafety in Canada by establishing consistent safety requirements for laboratories working with human pathogens and toxins.
"This proposed legislation will bring Canada into line with other developed nations," he said. "It will also make Canada's laboratory environment safer for our scientists and lab workers, and improve security for all Canadians."
The proposed bill establishes a mandatory licensing system to track human pathogens. It will also provide inspection powers to help ensure compliance with the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs), and that the legislation is applied properly and consistently across the country.
The proposed legislation builds on existing importation regulations and establishes legal prohibitions and authorities designed to ensure all work done with human pathogens and toxins is carried out in as safe a manner as possible, consistent with international standards.
The proposed legislation mandates the application of existing Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (LBGs) in all Canadian labs that possess human pathogens and toxins. The proposed legislation is the product of the Public Health Agency of Canada's extensive nationwide consultations with stakeholders, including scientists, lab workers, academics and bio-security experts.
Further to requiring adherence to the LBGs, the proposed legislation prohibits the following:
- possession of certain listed human pathogens and/or toxins (smallpox is currently the one pathogen on this list);
- the intentional misuse of human pathogens and/or toxins to cause risk of harm; and
- any use of human pathogens and/or toxins without a licence.
The government says the proposed legislation will bring Canada's laboratory legislation more in line with our international partners, including Australia, the UK, the US and other countries.:
Source: Lab Canada
Saturday, May 3, 2008
China on alert to try to stop deadly virus
BEIJING–China's Health Ministry issued a nationwide alert Saturday calling for heightened efforts to control a virus that has caused the deaths of 22 children in one city and shows signs of spreading.
Health bureaus around the country must step up monitoring for hand, foot and mouth disease following a "relatively large'' outbreak in the central city of Fuyang, the Health Ministry said in notices on its Web site.
The ministry warned that cases were more numerous this year than in recent years, and the peak for transmission would likely come in June and July.
The outbreak is another concern for China's communist government as it gears up to welcome hundreds of thousands of foreigners for this summer's Beijing Olympics. It's also an uncomfortable reminder of the SARS pneumonia outbreak in 2003, which Beijing tried to cover up but then adopted drastic measures to control.
Saturday's warning was prompted by a jump in cases in Fuyang of Enterovirus 71, or EV-71, a type of hand, foot and mouth disease.
Up to Thursday night, 3,321 cases of EV-71 were reported in Fuyang, a fast-growing city in largely rural Anhui province. Besides the 22 deaths, 978 people remain hospitalized, 58 of them in serious or critical condition, the ministry said in a separate statement.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency also reported that preliminary tests showed an 18-month-old boy who died Friday in southeastern Guangdong province was infected with EV-71, and a second suspected death was under investigation. Cases of hand, foot and mouth outbreaks, but not necessarily EV-71, have been reported in at least two other provinces.
"Health bureaus at all levels must recognize the importance and urgency of preventing the spread of infectious diseases," the ministry said in its nationwide order.
Enterovirus 71 is one of several viruses that cause hand, foot and mouth disease, which is characterized by fever, mouth sores and a rash with blisters. It is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons.
The illness mainly strikes children young than 10 and is not related to foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle, sheep and swine.
The nationwide order said preventing the spread of infectious diseases was necessary "to guarantee the smooth staging of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and to practically preserve social stability.''
The order targeted hand, foot and mouth disease, as well as hepatitis A, measles and other infectious diseases commonly spread in the spring and summer.
Mindful of the SARS experience, the order vowed to punish any person or agency who tried to cover-up or delay disclosure of outbreaks.
State media cited the SARS experience in reports this past week that said people in Fuyang had criticized the government's response as slow, allowing rumors to spread about the outbreak.
A press officer with the World Health Organization said representatives were not available for comment on Saturday. The WHO in a statement on Thursday said that while cases in Fuyang cropped up in early March, they increased sharply starting April 19 but a rapid response from China also steeply decreased the rate of fatalities in the second half of April.
With no vaccine or specific therapy developed for EV-71, the WHO recommended better hygiene, with more frequent hand-washing and disinfecting areas – something that it said China was doing.
State-run television footage showed workers spraying disinfectant around houses in rural areas outside Fuyang and medical teams visiting families with small children.
Since the SARS crisis, the government has increased spending on the detection and monitoring of communicable diseases. The Health Ministry has ordered regular reports on outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth diseases and has sent expert teams to Anhui province to lead treatment and prevention.
May 03, 2008
CHARLES HUTZLER
The Associated Press
Health bureaus around the country must step up monitoring for hand, foot and mouth disease following a "relatively large'' outbreak in the central city of Fuyang, the Health Ministry said in notices on its Web site.
The ministry warned that cases were more numerous this year than in recent years, and the peak for transmission would likely come in June and July.
The outbreak is another concern for China's communist government as it gears up to welcome hundreds of thousands of foreigners for this summer's Beijing Olympics. It's also an uncomfortable reminder of the SARS pneumonia outbreak in 2003, which Beijing tried to cover up but then adopted drastic measures to control.
Saturday's warning was prompted by a jump in cases in Fuyang of Enterovirus 71, or EV-71, a type of hand, foot and mouth disease.
Up to Thursday night, 3,321 cases of EV-71 were reported in Fuyang, a fast-growing city in largely rural Anhui province. Besides the 22 deaths, 978 people remain hospitalized, 58 of them in serious or critical condition, the ministry said in a separate statement.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency also reported that preliminary tests showed an 18-month-old boy who died Friday in southeastern Guangdong province was infected with EV-71, and a second suspected death was under investigation. Cases of hand, foot and mouth outbreaks, but not necessarily EV-71, have been reported in at least two other provinces.
"Health bureaus at all levels must recognize the importance and urgency of preventing the spread of infectious diseases," the ministry said in its nationwide order.
Enterovirus 71 is one of several viruses that cause hand, foot and mouth disease, which is characterized by fever, mouth sores and a rash with blisters. It is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons.
The illness mainly strikes children young than 10 and is not related to foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle, sheep and swine.
The nationwide order said preventing the spread of infectious diseases was necessary "to guarantee the smooth staging of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and to practically preserve social stability.''
The order targeted hand, foot and mouth disease, as well as hepatitis A, measles and other infectious diseases commonly spread in the spring and summer.
Mindful of the SARS experience, the order vowed to punish any person or agency who tried to cover-up or delay disclosure of outbreaks.
State media cited the SARS experience in reports this past week that said people in Fuyang had criticized the government's response as slow, allowing rumors to spread about the outbreak.
A press officer with the World Health Organization said representatives were not available for comment on Saturday. The WHO in a statement on Thursday said that while cases in Fuyang cropped up in early March, they increased sharply starting April 19 but a rapid response from China also steeply decreased the rate of fatalities in the second half of April.
With no vaccine or specific therapy developed for EV-71, the WHO recommended better hygiene, with more frequent hand-washing and disinfecting areas – something that it said China was doing.
State-run television footage showed workers spraying disinfectant around houses in rural areas outside Fuyang and medical teams visiting families with small children.
Since the SARS crisis, the government has increased spending on the detection and monitoring of communicable diseases. The Health Ministry has ordered regular reports on outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth diseases and has sent expert teams to Anhui province to lead treatment and prevention.
May 03, 2008
CHARLES HUTZLER
The Associated Press
Sunday, April 13, 2008
JMAR Technologies Reports Positive Findings in EPA Tests of BioSentry Water Monitoring System
JMAR Technologies Marketing Communications Manager Kathi Kirchmeier, 858-946-6800 kkirchmeier@jmar.com or Investor Relations Intl Managing Partner Haris Tajyar, 818-382-9702 htajyar@irintl.com JMAR Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:JMAR), a leading developer of advanced laser, photonics and detection technologies, today announced the results of a testing program carried out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to measure the performance of
JMAR's BioSentry monitoring system and competing products at detecting harmful microorganisms in drinking water distribution systems.
The U.S. EPA presented results at the AWWA Water Security Congress 2008 this week and the tests found that BioSentry was able to detect bacterial pathogens up to 25 times better than any other product tested. The published results can be found in the proceedings of the conference.
The program was carried out in 2007 by the EPA's National Security Homeland Research Center, using a pilot-scale water distribution system at the EPA's testing and evaluation facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tests were performed to determine the detection capabilities of BioSentry and other products against intentional introduction of pathogens into a water distribution system. Several pathogen surrogates were used simulating lethal microbes.
JMAR Technologies' President and CEO C. Neil Beer, Ph.D., commented, "As a matter of policy, the EPA does not endorse or promote specific products. However, the performance of our flagship product, BioSentry, in EPA's strictly objective testing program, speaks for itself. These results strongly reinforce our conviction that BioSentry will soon be in wide use around the world to protect the public from intentional or accidental contamination of water supplies. The success of BioSentry also bodes well for other products in development that employ similar advanced technology."
To be added to JMAR Technologies' investor lists, please contact Haris Tajyar at htajyar@irintl.com or at 818-382-9702.
About JMAR
JMAR Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:JMAR) is a late-stage technology company with expertise in the development and early commercialization of detection and laser-based technologies for nano-scale imaging, chemical and biological analysis, and fabrication. The Company is leveraging more than a decade of laser and photonics research in developing a portfolio of products with market applications in high interest areas such as homeland security, biological monitoring of water quality, and hazardous materials detection. These technologies represent significant intellectual property, including twenty nine issued or pending patents. For further information on JMAR Technologies, please visit www.jmar.com.
Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the uncertainty of acceptance in the market for our products and technologies or the acceptance of our customers' products or technologies which incorporate our products and technologies, the failure of our technology to perform as predicted, competition from alternative technologies, uncertainties as to the size of the markets, cost and margins for JMAR's products, current or future government regulations affecting the use of JMAR's products, the lack of availability of critical components, the degree of protection from future patents, other risks associated with the development or acquisition of new products or technologies and those risks detailed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and no assurances can be given that such statements will be achieved. JMAR Technologies, Inc. does not assume any duty to publicly update or revise the material contained herein.
Product Outperforms All Alternative Technologies for Real-Time
Pathogen Detection
JMAR's BioSentry monitoring system and competing products at detecting harmful microorganisms in drinking water distribution systems.
The U.S. EPA presented results at the AWWA Water Security Congress 2008 this week and the tests found that BioSentry was able to detect bacterial pathogens up to 25 times better than any other product tested. The published results can be found in the proceedings of the conference.
The program was carried out in 2007 by the EPA's National Security Homeland Research Center, using a pilot-scale water distribution system at the EPA's testing and evaluation facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tests were performed to determine the detection capabilities of BioSentry and other products against intentional introduction of pathogens into a water distribution system. Several pathogen surrogates were used simulating lethal microbes.
JMAR Technologies' President and CEO C. Neil Beer, Ph.D., commented, "As a matter of policy, the EPA does not endorse or promote specific products. However, the performance of our flagship product, BioSentry, in EPA's strictly objective testing program, speaks for itself. These results strongly reinforce our conviction that BioSentry will soon be in wide use around the world to protect the public from intentional or accidental contamination of water supplies. The success of BioSentry also bodes well for other products in development that employ similar advanced technology."
To be added to JMAR Technologies' investor lists, please contact Haris Tajyar at htajyar@irintl.com or at 818-382-9702.
About JMAR
JMAR Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:JMAR) is a late-stage technology company with expertise in the development and early commercialization of detection and laser-based technologies for nano-scale imaging, chemical and biological analysis, and fabrication. The Company is leveraging more than a decade of laser and photonics research in developing a portfolio of products with market applications in high interest areas such as homeland security, biological monitoring of water quality, and hazardous materials detection. These technologies represent significant intellectual property, including twenty nine issued or pending patents. For further information on JMAR Technologies, please visit www.jmar.com.
Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the uncertainty of acceptance in the market for our products and technologies or the acceptance of our customers' products or technologies which incorporate our products and technologies, the failure of our technology to perform as predicted, competition from alternative technologies, uncertainties as to the size of the markets, cost and margins for JMAR's products, current or future government regulations affecting the use of JMAR's products, the lack of availability of critical components, the degree of protection from future patents, other risks associated with the development or acquisition of new products or technologies and those risks detailed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and no assurances can be given that such statements will be achieved. JMAR Technologies, Inc. does not assume any duty to publicly update or revise the material contained herein.
Product Outperforms All Alternative Technologies for Real-Time
Pathogen Detection
NDSU, other land grant universities join to develop eXtension web site
The North Dakota State University Extension Service has teamed up with 73 other universities to develop eXtension, a Web site devoted to bringing solutions to today's complex challenges. The information-packed Web site can be accessed at http://www.extension.org/.
eXtension is a portal to the nation's largest educational and information system, its creators say. It provides reliable answers based on solid research and trustworthy, field-tested data, along with the knowledge of experts from land-grant universities across the nation. It complements and enhances the community-based programming the Extension Service provides.
Topics covered on the eXtension Web site include horticulture, personal finance, parenting, family issues, horses, beef and dairy cattle, entrepreneurship, geospatial technology, dealing with disasters, cotton, diversity, fire ants, wildlife damage and management, and a program that exposes youth to science, engineering and technology. More topics will be added in the coming months.
“I am excited to be involved in developing this resource because it will provide access to timely, unbiased and accurate information for consumers 24/7,” says Debra Pankow, NDSU Extension Service family economics specialist. Pankow chairs the group that gathers information on financial security.
eXtension provides information a number of ways, including articles from resource area experts and answers to frequently asked questions. However, unlike most other Web-based information resources, eXtension also has experts from universities throughout the country ready to answer specific questions within 48 hours. Once answered, the question and answer become part of the frequently answered questions section of a topic.
Source: NDSU Extension
eXtension is a portal to the nation's largest educational and information system, its creators say. It provides reliable answers based on solid research and trustworthy, field-tested data, along with the knowledge of experts from land-grant universities across the nation. It complements and enhances the community-based programming the Extension Service provides.
Topics covered on the eXtension Web site include horticulture, personal finance, parenting, family issues, horses, beef and dairy cattle, entrepreneurship, geospatial technology, dealing with disasters, cotton, diversity, fire ants, wildlife damage and management, and a program that exposes youth to science, engineering and technology. More topics will be added in the coming months.
“I am excited to be involved in developing this resource because it will provide access to timely, unbiased and accurate information for consumers 24/7,” says Debra Pankow, NDSU Extension Service family economics specialist. Pankow chairs the group that gathers information on financial security.
eXtension provides information a number of ways, including articles from resource area experts and answers to frequently asked questions. However, unlike most other Web-based information resources, eXtension also has experts from universities throughout the country ready to answer specific questions within 48 hours. Once answered, the question and answer become part of the frequently answered questions section of a topic.
Source: NDSU Extension
DuPont, USDA ARS to collaborate on new E. coli test in beef
DuPont and the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are teaming up to find new ways to detect an E. coli strain in beef that, even in low concentrations, can cause severe illness.
Through a cooperative research and development agreement, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, Neb., and DuPont Qualicon will develop a new test for E. coli 0157:H7, a pathogen that led to more than 30 million pounds of ground beef being recalled in 2007.
“Our mission is to develop scientific information and new technology to solve high priority problems for the U.S. beef, sheep and swine industries,” Mohammad Koohmaraie, USMARC director, said. “In the case of E. coli O157:H7 detection, we're looking at collaborative ways to quickly develop a new test.”
“We are committed to providing the meat industry with testing applications that use the best science available. This agreement allows us to work with experts from the USDA ARS toward our common goal of an E. coli O157:H7 test that is even faster, more accurate and more efficient,” Kevin Huttman, president,DuPont Qualicon, said.
E. coli O157:H7 is a food borne pathogen usually associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Even in low concentrations, it can cause severe illness, sometimes leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure in at-risk populations.
After several years of declining incidence, 2007 saw a resurgence with more than 30 million pounds of ground beef recalled due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
The DuPont Qualicon BAX system is currently used by food companies and governments around the world to reliably detect pathogens in food, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and more.
Through a cooperative research and development agreement, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, Neb., and DuPont Qualicon will develop a new test for E. coli 0157:H7, a pathogen that led to more than 30 million pounds of ground beef being recalled in 2007.
“Our mission is to develop scientific information and new technology to solve high priority problems for the U.S. beef, sheep and swine industries,” Mohammad Koohmaraie, USMARC director, said. “In the case of E. coli O157:H7 detection, we're looking at collaborative ways to quickly develop a new test.”
“We are committed to providing the meat industry with testing applications that use the best science available. This agreement allows us to work with experts from the USDA ARS toward our common goal of an E. coli O157:H7 test that is even faster, more accurate and more efficient,” Kevin Huttman, president,DuPont Qualicon, said.
E. coli O157:H7 is a food borne pathogen usually associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Even in low concentrations, it can cause severe illness, sometimes leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure in at-risk populations.
After several years of declining incidence, 2007 saw a resurgence with more than 30 million pounds of ground beef recalled due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
The DuPont Qualicon BAX system is currently used by food companies and governments around the world to reliably detect pathogens in food, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and more.
Avian Biosecurity Technology Development Fund
Canada’s New Government has committed a total of $3 million in funding over five years for avian biosecurity-related projects. The Avian Biosecurity Technology Development Fund was established in 2006 to provide assistance to eligible recipients to develop or advance on-farm biosecurity technologies of interest to the Canadian poultry sector.
Biosecurity refers to measures that protect the health of livestock by preventing transmission of disease. It is the most important investment industry can make to limit opportunities for the introduction and spread of avian influenza and other infectious diseases in their flock.
Eligible projects are selected based on essential criteria, under the categories of Technology Development, Technology Acceleration and Technology Demonstration. The Fund is managed by the Office of Animal Biosecurity of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Seven projects were selected for funding for the 2006/2007 fiscal year, with a total investment of $500,000. Those projects include:
Study of Microbial Contaminants on Shell Egg Conveyance Equipment
Canadian Egg Marketing Agency
This study will evaluate the risk of contamination of conveyance equipment used in production units and hatcheries, in grading stations and processing plants, and in transit. The goal is to develop acceptable, national protocols for cleaning and disinfecting trays, carts, and plastic skids/dividers. Proper equipment, which meets or exceeds the objectives of these protocols, will also be recommended.
Biosecurity Teaching Facility
University of Alberta
The Poultry Research Centre (PRC) of the University of Alberta is updating teaching materials and training facilities for its biosecurity program. Activities include:
the development of manuals outlining a complete biosecurity program, including a detailed account of retrofitting existing facilities with improved biosecurity measures; and,
the development of training activities and learning tools to disseminate the project results - including an industry workshop, training sessions for PRC users, and short educational videos about on-farm biosecurity.
The concepts and practices that are being developed through this study are intended to provide practical knowledge that can be adopted by both students and industry.
Anterooms for Existing Poultry Barns
eBiz Professionals Inc.
This project involves the design and construction of new anterooms (entrance ways) for existing poultry barns on farms in British Columbia and Ontario. Funding has been granted for the design and construction of four anterooms – three in British Columbia and one in Ontario.
Enhanced Equipment for Poultry Catching Crews
eBiz Professionals Inc.
Gates and fences are used by catchers to contain poultry when they are being collected for transportation. Units are often transported between farms, thus posing a significant risk for disease transmission. This project includes the design and development of four different prototypes for gates and fences that can remain on poultry farms. The goal is to develop a unit that can be mass-produced at a reasonable cost, and can be properly cleaned and stored on location. The intention is to help eliminate the risk of disease transmission from farm-to-farm.
Crate Washing Systems
eBiz Professionals Inc.
Crate washers are used in the receiving area of poultry processing plants to ensure that crates, which are used to transport poultry from farm-to-farm, are thoroughly cleaned and remain free of contaminated material. This project will examine a range of crate-washing systems and determine areas for improvement. With the assistance of processing personnel and equipment suppliers, design concepts for new systems will be developed and new prototypes built.
Chemical Fogger
Canards du lac Brome Ltée.
A chemical fogger for disinfecting poultry premises will be installed and tested on the grounds of a duck breeding operation. The goal is to heighten preventative measures against the infection of high-risk diseases among poultry by enhancing disinfection and sanitizing techniques, by use of the chemical fogger.
Plastic Nests for Commercial Waterfowl Production Facility
King Cole Ducks Limited
Pathogenic micro-organisms, such as salmonella, commonly contaminate newly-laid eggs in waterfowl species. This project will examine the efficacy of plastic nest boxes in lowering the presence of micro-organisms, in comparison with traditional wooden nest boxes.
All recipients of funding through the Avian Biosecurity Technology Development Fund are required to submit a final report to the CFIA regarding the outcome of their respective project(s). Under the agreement, any new technologies, techniques and protocols that are developed and approved must be published and shared with the Canadian poultry industry for widespread use.
For more information on the Avian Biosecurity Technology Development Fund and the above mentioned projects, please contact:
Dr. Keith G. Campbell
National Manager, Office of Animal Biosecurity
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-221-3913
campbellkg@inspection.gc.ca
Biosecurity refers to measures that protect the health of livestock by preventing transmission of disease. It is the most important investment industry can make to limit opportunities for the introduction and spread of avian influenza and other infectious diseases in their flock.
Eligible projects are selected based on essential criteria, under the categories of Technology Development, Technology Acceleration and Technology Demonstration. The Fund is managed by the Office of Animal Biosecurity of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Seven projects were selected for funding for the 2006/2007 fiscal year, with a total investment of $500,000. Those projects include:
Study of Microbial Contaminants on Shell Egg Conveyance Equipment
Canadian Egg Marketing Agency
This study will evaluate the risk of contamination of conveyance equipment used in production units and hatcheries, in grading stations and processing plants, and in transit. The goal is to develop acceptable, national protocols for cleaning and disinfecting trays, carts, and plastic skids/dividers. Proper equipment, which meets or exceeds the objectives of these protocols, will also be recommended.
Biosecurity Teaching Facility
University of Alberta
The Poultry Research Centre (PRC) of the University of Alberta is updating teaching materials and training facilities for its biosecurity program. Activities include:
the development of manuals outlining a complete biosecurity program, including a detailed account of retrofitting existing facilities with improved biosecurity measures; and,
the development of training activities and learning tools to disseminate the project results - including an industry workshop, training sessions for PRC users, and short educational videos about on-farm biosecurity.
The concepts and practices that are being developed through this study are intended to provide practical knowledge that can be adopted by both students and industry.
Anterooms for Existing Poultry Barns
eBiz Professionals Inc.
This project involves the design and construction of new anterooms (entrance ways) for existing poultry barns on farms in British Columbia and Ontario. Funding has been granted for the design and construction of four anterooms – three in British Columbia and one in Ontario.
Enhanced Equipment for Poultry Catching Crews
eBiz Professionals Inc.
Gates and fences are used by catchers to contain poultry when they are being collected for transportation. Units are often transported between farms, thus posing a significant risk for disease transmission. This project includes the design and development of four different prototypes for gates and fences that can remain on poultry farms. The goal is to develop a unit that can be mass-produced at a reasonable cost, and can be properly cleaned and stored on location. The intention is to help eliminate the risk of disease transmission from farm-to-farm.
Crate Washing Systems
eBiz Professionals Inc.
Crate washers are used in the receiving area of poultry processing plants to ensure that crates, which are used to transport poultry from farm-to-farm, are thoroughly cleaned and remain free of contaminated material. This project will examine a range of crate-washing systems and determine areas for improvement. With the assistance of processing personnel and equipment suppliers, design concepts for new systems will be developed and new prototypes built.
Chemical Fogger
Canards du lac Brome Ltée.
A chemical fogger for disinfecting poultry premises will be installed and tested on the grounds of a duck breeding operation. The goal is to heighten preventative measures against the infection of high-risk diseases among poultry by enhancing disinfection and sanitizing techniques, by use of the chemical fogger.
Plastic Nests for Commercial Waterfowl Production Facility
King Cole Ducks Limited
Pathogenic micro-organisms, such as salmonella, commonly contaminate newly-laid eggs in waterfowl species. This project will examine the efficacy of plastic nest boxes in lowering the presence of micro-organisms, in comparison with traditional wooden nest boxes.
All recipients of funding through the Avian Biosecurity Technology Development Fund are required to submit a final report to the CFIA regarding the outcome of their respective project(s). Under the agreement, any new technologies, techniques and protocols that are developed and approved must be published and shared with the Canadian poultry industry for widespread use.
For more information on the Avian Biosecurity Technology Development Fund and the above mentioned projects, please contact:
Dr. Keith G. Campbell
National Manager, Office of Animal Biosecurity
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-221-3913
campbellkg@inspection.gc.ca
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
‘Bio-security’ measures launched
Around 800 more chickens died on Saturday in a poultry farm reportedly owned by the Rangers. The farm is located adjacent to the one in which Friday’s laboratory test confirmed the outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu. The discovery compelled officials to put nine people, including four Rangers’ personnel under observation, Health officials said.
“The adjacent poultry farm is being monitored, though its laboratory test is expected on Monday,” said Deputy Secretary Health Dr Shakil Mullick.
According to him, teams of doctors have examined over 50 people and no human infection case has so far been detected. Nine poultry workers associated with the adjacent farm are being monitored by doctors twice a day - morning and evening. Three workers of “Uni Poultry Farm” have been kept at the isolation ward of the Civil Hospital, Karachi.
Doctors visited five more poultry farms on Saturday and examined over 20 workers. However, nothing unusual was found.
Health Officer (Gadap Town) Khalil Ansari said that the death of more birds at the adjacent farm has given rise to the suspicion of the existence of bird flu. Hence, he said, they have started spraying there. According to him, the workers have been given masks, gloves, etc. as precautionary measures. Furthermore, three surveillance teams have been formed, which are visiting the farms, besides which doctors are also examining the family members of the affected poultry workers. Ansari mentioned that they were facing some resistance at various poultry farms but added that the town administration managed to resolve the matter.
He said that, so far, 2,500 chickens, among 5,000, had died at the adjacent farm.
Dr Rasheed Ahmed Bhutto, a member of the three teams of doctors set up by Provincial Coordination on Bird Flu, told The News that they have started “bio-security” measures to prevent spread of bird flu. They visited around 10 to 12 poultry farms and informed the owners about the bio-security steps, he said, adding that one team of doctors would be regularly visiting the area from Sunday.
Elaborating, he said that the bio-security measures pertain to covering feed and water as well as burying birds and not visiting infected farms. He mentioned that each farm in Dhunba Goth contains around 15,000 to 30,000 chickens.
Provincial Coordinator on Bird Flu, Dr Ali Akbar Soomro, said that they had taken samples from a couple of poultry farms as precautionary measures. According to him, migratory birds, improper management of farms, lack of clean water and polluted feed were the major causes of this outbreak. Safe water could control the outbreak of virus up to 50 per cent and proper nutrients could increase resistance power in birds up to 20-22 per cent, he added.
He, however, dispelled the impression of the existence of bird flu in Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin, adding that reports were sought from the EDOs after hearing the news but all of them rejected the same. —IA
Source:- The News,Pakistan
“The adjacent poultry farm is being monitored, though its laboratory test is expected on Monday,” said Deputy Secretary Health Dr Shakil Mullick.
According to him, teams of doctors have examined over 50 people and no human infection case has so far been detected. Nine poultry workers associated with the adjacent farm are being monitored by doctors twice a day - morning and evening. Three workers of “Uni Poultry Farm” have been kept at the isolation ward of the Civil Hospital, Karachi.
Doctors visited five more poultry farms on Saturday and examined over 20 workers. However, nothing unusual was found.
Health Officer (Gadap Town) Khalil Ansari said that the death of more birds at the adjacent farm has given rise to the suspicion of the existence of bird flu. Hence, he said, they have started spraying there. According to him, the workers have been given masks, gloves, etc. as precautionary measures. Furthermore, three surveillance teams have been formed, which are visiting the farms, besides which doctors are also examining the family members of the affected poultry workers. Ansari mentioned that they were facing some resistance at various poultry farms but added that the town administration managed to resolve the matter.
He said that, so far, 2,500 chickens, among 5,000, had died at the adjacent farm.
Dr Rasheed Ahmed Bhutto, a member of the three teams of doctors set up by Provincial Coordination on Bird Flu, told The News that they have started “bio-security” measures to prevent spread of bird flu. They visited around 10 to 12 poultry farms and informed the owners about the bio-security steps, he said, adding that one team of doctors would be regularly visiting the area from Sunday.
Elaborating, he said that the bio-security measures pertain to covering feed and water as well as burying birds and not visiting infected farms. He mentioned that each farm in Dhunba Goth contains around 15,000 to 30,000 chickens.
Provincial Coordinator on Bird Flu, Dr Ali Akbar Soomro, said that they had taken samples from a couple of poultry farms as precautionary measures. According to him, migratory birds, improper management of farms, lack of clean water and polluted feed were the major causes of this outbreak. Safe water could control the outbreak of virus up to 50 per cent and proper nutrients could increase resistance power in birds up to 20-22 per cent, he added.
He, however, dispelled the impression of the existence of bird flu in Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin, adding that reports were sought from the EDOs after hearing the news but all of them rejected the same. —IA
Source:- The News,Pakistan
GE to purchase Whatman for $717M
Published: Tuesday, February 05, 2008
General Electric Co. agreed to buy Whatman Plc, the U.K. maker of DNA-based products for drug research and police laboratories, for 363 million pounds ($717 million) to gain filters and equipment for its health-care business.
Investors in London-based Whatman will get 270 pence a share, Fairfield, Conn.-based GE said Monday in a statement. That's 12 percent more than Whatman's closing price on Feb. 1, the last trading day before Monday's announcement, and 31 per cent more than the closing price on Jan. 14, the day before Whatman announced it had been approached as a target.
Source: The Calgary Herald
02/06/08
General Electric Co. agreed to buy Whatman Plc, the U.K. maker of DNA-based products for drug research and police laboratories, for 363 million pounds ($717 million) to gain filters and equipment for its health-care business.
Investors in London-based Whatman will get 270 pence a share, Fairfield, Conn.-based GE said Monday in a statement. That's 12 percent more than Whatman's closing price on Feb. 1, the last trading day before Monday's announcement, and 31 per cent more than the closing price on Jan. 14, the day before Whatman announced it had been approached as a target.
Source: The Calgary Herald
02/06/08
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Greening the Caribbean
In Puerto Rico, engineers integrate commonly used technologies to produce a unique top-rated green building.
Standard Refrigeration Co. Inc.'s Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, facility was getting old. Real estate costs were skyrocketing. The shared office and manufacturing space just wasn't cutting it any more. The mechanical/electrical contracting firm, founded 60 years ago, had to move.
But firm officials didn't want just to build a new facility—they wanted a unique, sustainable building. The firm decided to acquire 5 acres of industrial set-aside land on the outskirts of San Juan. They acquired land in 1999, and completed the permit acquisition in 2004. Construction of the administrative building began in 2005, with occupancy beginning in 2006.
Finally, the crowning glory of the project came on Sept. 21, 2006, when the facility achieved a platinum rating under USGBC LEED NC Version 2.1 for new construction—the first building in Puerto Rico, and the first in the Caribbean, to attain this highest LEED certification level.
“The greatest challenge on the project was complying with requirements for LEED platinum status,” said Jorge Ledon Webster, PE, lead mechanical engineer on the project. “A lot of effort was put into providing a first-class interior environment requiring minimal energy costs. The LEED process requires a lot of documentation.”
The two-story building is a 9,600-sq.-ft footprint with 12,000 sq. ft of air conditioned area for offices, cafeteria and storage areas. In addition to being designed to LEED NC Version 2 requirements, the design process also adhered to ASHRAE 90.1-1999 for energy efficiency, ASHRAE 55-1995 for thermal comfort for human occupancy, and ASHRAE 62.1-2001 standard for ventilation. The main incentive for the new building was to achieve a substantial energy use reduction when compared with the firm's existing facility in Guaynabo.
Conserving energy
Energy conservation measures incorporated into the design including:
Lighting upgrade: With an illumination-level calculation program, and using minimum illumination level requirements of 50 lumens at all desktops, the total Watts per square foot were reduced by 0.78 W/sq. ft. In addition, all offices and open areas have T8 lamps with high-efficiency tubes and occupancy sensors. All walls have a reflectivity of 75% and ceilings have a reflectivity of 85%.
Insulation upgrade: In addition to the minimum requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-1999, the roof insulation was increased from R19 to R30 with a reflectivity of 92% and the walls from U = 0.58 and no R value requirement to a U = 0.089 and an R11.25.
Condensing unit efficiency upgrade: R410A units with dual speed compressors and 60,000 Btuh capacity with an 11.35 EER were installed (ASHRAE 90.1 minimum requirement is 9.7 EER).
Heat recovery: An energy recovery unit (enthalpy wheel) with an 85% efficiency and capable of handling 125% of the required outside air was included in the system. In addition, the hot water for the reheat coil in the air conditioning units is obtained from desuperheaters for each of four compressors. Solar panels are connected in series for additional reheat capacity.
High efficiency fans: The air conditioning unit has an adjustable-pitch vane axial fan with a static efficiency greater than 75%. ASHRAE 90.1 requires a maximum of 1.7 hp per 1,000 cfm for variable air volume (VAV) systems. The design used 0.675 hp per 1,000 cfm.
Fenestration: Double glass windows with clear glass inside and low-E glass outside with U = 0.26, exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 requirements. In addition, exterior metal shadings cover all glass areas for a substantial improvement on the solar heat gain coefficient requirements.
Exhaust and supply fans: The building exhaust and the outside air make-up use the fans of the energy recovery unit and are both served by variable frequency drives for higher energy efficiencies. Electrical efficiencies
“Our new building consumes so much less electricity than our previous building that the electrical savings alone will pay for the cost of the new building in 10 to 15 years at today's electricity rates,” said Juan S. Quintana, president of Standard Refrigeration. Strategies employed in this project yielded the results for electricity usage shown in Table 1.
Using the LEED-NC Version 2.1 criteria, where receptacles are not considered, the electricity savings is in excess of 70% when compared with ASHRAE 90.1-1999. The building management system of the new facility, along with a separate energy monitoring system, provided the electricity use data shown in Table 2. For the period from July 15, 2006, to July 15, 2007, the results of a comparison between design and actual use are shown in Table 3.
The hours of use and the square footage used in the model defined the difference in design vs. actual use of electricity for the receptacles. The complete building area should have been used in design for the receptacles rather than the air conditioned areas. The building receptacles serve refrigerators, water coolers, vending machines, uninterruptible power supplies, photocopiers, and other electrical units that consume electricity 24 hours per day.
For receptacles design: 12,000 sq. ft x 2,496 h x 0.66 W/sq. ft = 19,768 kWh
For receptacles actual: 19,200 sq. ft x 8,760 h x 0.29 W/sq. ft = 48,776 kWh.
The actual number of hours increased because they had to start up the unit two hours earlier every day, used the unit during the lunch hour, and used it for two additional hours every day in the afternoon, which lead to the difference between design and actual electricity use for the air conditioning system. The number of hours used in the design model is 2,496, but the actual number of hours is 4,400: 4,400/2,496 x 51,885 kWh = 91,464 kWh
Mechanical integration
The air conditioning system consists of an air-handling unit (AHU) with a VAV adjustable-pitch vane axial fan with variable volume boxes to maintain static pressure and variable volume diffusers in every location. The AHU has a DX cooling coil that is vertically split intertwined and has a double circuit, top and bottom. The AHU is a draw-through type, and each coil section closest to the fan has an individual 5 TR (tons of refrigeration) condensing unit connected to it that runs continuously while the fan is operating. Each of the other coil sections of the split coil is connected to a variable speed 5 TR condensing unit and responds to leaving air temperature (set at 53 F).
The variable speed condensing units are not allowed to cycle more than six times per hour. If the building temperature drops below 73 F, the VAV reheat water pump operates to raise the building return air temperature through the reheat coil. This combination of sequences allows the A/C system to maintain 72 F +/-1 F and 50% +/-5% relative humidity.
Outside air is forced into the AHU return plenum by a VAV energy recovery unit that is capable of 125% of the required air for ventilation. The AHU has (MERV 14) 85% efficient permanent filters and 40% throw away pre-filters. It also has UV-C lights in the return air plenum using the intensity recommendations from “Immune Building Systems Technology” (Wladyslaw Jan Kowalski, McGraw-Hill, 2002).
All ductwork in the building is galvanized sheet metal double-wall with solid interior liner and fiberglass insulation sandwiched between duct walls. Additionally, the inner duct liner is covered with a technology that liberates silver ions and prevents bacterial growth inside the ducts.
All VAV diffusers (thermafusers) were placed so as to achieve an air diffusion performance index of 90 or greater. Areas with more than one occupant have a thermostat that can bypass the VAV serving the area and convert the VAV to temperature-controlled for a period of 3 hours. A Web-based monitoring system samples seven different areas of the building for temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOCs, and particulate. This continuous sampling process also reports to the energy management system.
In order to verify the particulate reported by the monitoring system, the engineers brought in a particle counter and the area sampled at random reported as ISO class 8 clean room. The ratio is maintained at a maximum of 1.0 cfm/sq. ft and a minimum of 0.7 cfm/sq. ft by the VAV system. The ratio of exhaust air to intake air is controlled using VAV units in both supply and exhaust fans to achieve positive building pressurization, adequate exhaust control, and minimum ventilation requirements at all times. Only if the carbon monoxide in the building exceeds 800 parts per million will the minimum ventilation rate be exceeded while always maintaining building pressurization.
Not only did the design team create a high-performance facility in terms of energy efficiency, but they also maximized efficiencies with respect to operation and maintenance. The AHU, energy recovery unit, condensing units, desuperheaters, reheat water tank, reheat pump and domestic solar hot water collectors all are located on a single pad outside the building for ease of maintenance. And the commissioning process verified each and every item of the HVAC and plumbing system.
Design uniqueness
“The positive environmental impacts that result from the design of our new building are significant and many,” Quintana said, “including condensing units that use R-410A refrigerant; electrical savings of 70% that substantially reduce carbon dioxide generation; and recycling of materials such as glass, paper, aluminum, cardboard, electrical lamps, printer cartridges, car batteries, oil, cellular phones, sheet metal, car tires, wood pallets, and grass.”
In addition, light pollution is eliminated by keeping the illumination within the site; all storm water is strained for removal of oil residue and some phosphorus; rain water is used for toilets and urinals; and the facility's own sewage treatment plant operates on evapotranspiration, which does not impact acquifer recharging. Storm water is retained in an underground rechargeable tank that slowly releases water during a 72 h timeframe so that water will not affect the level of the creek close to our site.
“We feel that our building is really unique,” Quintana said. “It is located in Puerto Rico without the benefits of using cold outside air for air conditioning at any time during the year. Yet still, we have achieved 750 sq. ft/ton.
“The greatest reward was that project goals were accomplished, and that the owner obtained substancial savings from energy and water measures that were implemented during the design process,” he said. “The coordination between the owner, which in this case was the contractor, and the rest of the design team was a great plus for implementing all the energy savings into the project.”
Because the owners of the facility are in the MEP business themselves, they began this project with a strong notion of what could be achieved, and challenged their design team with the task of far surpassing their existing building in energy use reduction. And the design team did a “platinum” job of meeting the challenge.
End use Design case (kWh) Budget case (kWh)
Electrical receptacles 19,740 19,740
Lighting 29,823 48,232
Space cooling 42,168 116,703
Fans/pumps 9,717 110,028
Date Receptacles First floor Second floor A/C
07/15/2006 40 x 106 W 6 x 106 W 6 x 106 W 44 x 106 W
07/15/2007 88 x 106 W 17 x 106 W 18 x 106 W 83.5 x 106 W
Use Design (kWh) Actual (kWh)
Lighting 29,823 23,000
Receptacles 19,740 48,000
A/C 51,885 83,500
Natural ventilation makes this library coolest building on campus
Architecture rules at this new Judson University building, which houses an expanded library and the division of art, design, and architecture. “Seeking a facility worthy of an evolving architecture program that is seeking accreditation, the university conducted an international design competition,” said Norm Bower, KJWW public relations coordinator. London-based architect Alan Short of Short and Assocs., a pioneer in low-energy, naturally ventilated, and passively cooled buildings, designed the facility.
The design team's challenge was to treat light and humidity issues in a library and art environment, where these factors could seriously damage the contents of the 88,000-sq.-ft building. Dominant energy-conscious features of the building are its photovoltaic, natural ventilation, and natural daylighting systems. Optimizing solar gains in the spring and fall is intended to allow the building to run naturally, with little or no mechanical intervention, for six or more months of the year. The building is expected to earn a USGBC LEED silver rating.
“The greatest challenge as an HVAC engineer on this project was taking the vision of placing a naturally ventilated building in the middle of the Midwest,” said Wade Ross, PE, lead mechanical engineer on the project. “Although the system works well in Northern Europe, we had to not only adapt it to the harsh Midwest climate, but also justify its viability.”
Ross also points to the vital need for teamwork. “Another struggle for the engineering firm was to design an exterior concrete precast structure with multiple openings. Extremely close coordination had to take place between engineering disciplines, architect, and the precast contractor,” he said.
Designing a naturally ventilated building that conformed to local code also challenged the team. For example, when it came to smoke evacuation strategies, “computational fluid dynamics analyses were commissioned to show that smoke could be effectively vented from the structure,” said architect of record Rick McCarthy, AIA, of Burnell Cassell Assocs., Elgin, Ill.
Natural ventilation is probably the most innovative aspect of the design. The building draws cool air at the lower level, circulates it throughout the building through various routes, and exhausts the air through roof terminals. Because of the extreme Midwest climate, a fully natural ventilation system was not possible. Consequently, mechanical engineers designed a hybrid system that minimizes the use of conventional heating and cooling, with operation in the natural mode for as much of the year as possible, but engaging the mechanical mode when the need arises.
There is a significant amount of engineering involved in the design of such a system, and the end product is a building that behaves as a single integrated system.
High school makes the lifecycle grade
Kinard Junior High School's design almost makes you want to go back to school just to check out the building. The facility incorporates thermal advanced insulating systems, daylighting, lighting controls, and geoexchange heat pump technology with exhaust air heat recovery ventilation systems. A building automation system monitors and controls engineered systems throughout the 117,000-sq.-ft building.
“Poudre School District (PSD) is very sensitive to total lifetime cost impacts of the design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements, keeping in mind the total lifecycle costs rather than focusing primarily on the lowest first costs,” said Eric Young, PE, president of EMC Engineers Inc. and lead mechanical engineer on the project.
This was the fourth project that project architect, RB+B Architects, Fort Collins, Colo., designed under PSD sustainability guidelines. EMC was selected to provide three separate areas of service for this project: energy analysis, mechanical design, and commissioning. PSD selected EMC's energy team to help establish energy and sustainable goals for the facility, to create an energy model, and to update the model and advise the design team throughout the design process as relevant architectural and MEP systems features were determined. EMC also was selected for its experience in designing high-performance geoexchange systems. Finally, the firm was responsible for co-commissioning the building, working closely with Architectural Energy Corp., Boulder, Colo.
The district challenged the design team not only to explore ways to make this project even more energy efficient than previous schools, but also to make it exceptionally easy to build and maintain.
“The budget for the entire project was $17.45 million and the building was completed for a total cost of $17.5 million,” Young said. “The cost of the mechanical and plumbing portions of the project, including the geoexchange borefield, was $2.2 million, It came in on budget, equaling $18.86/sq. ft, a very competitive construction cost for this type of system.”
PSD documented the energy performance of this school for one complete year from July 2006 through June 2007, and tracked its performance against another conventional, similar-sized junior high school in the district. Electrical and gas savings can be summarized by the amount of energy used in one year per square foot for each school: Kinnard's 24.8 kBtu/sq. ft/yr compared to 55 kBtu/sq. ft/yr for the other school—an energy cost savings of approximately $30,000 in the first year of operation.
Stu Reeve, energy manager for PSD, echoes the excitement in the performance results. “Based on previous high-performance schools in PSD, we increased our expectations and performance goals for this project and EMC exceeded them all,” Reeve said.
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer
Standard Refrigeration Co. Inc.'s Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, facility was getting old. Real estate costs were skyrocketing. The shared office and manufacturing space just wasn't cutting it any more. The mechanical/electrical contracting firm, founded 60 years ago, had to move.
But firm officials didn't want just to build a new facility—they wanted a unique, sustainable building. The firm decided to acquire 5 acres of industrial set-aside land on the outskirts of San Juan. They acquired land in 1999, and completed the permit acquisition in 2004. Construction of the administrative building began in 2005, with occupancy beginning in 2006.
Finally, the crowning glory of the project came on Sept. 21, 2006, when the facility achieved a platinum rating under USGBC LEED NC Version 2.1 for new construction—the first building in Puerto Rico, and the first in the Caribbean, to attain this highest LEED certification level.
“The greatest challenge on the project was complying with requirements for LEED platinum status,” said Jorge Ledon Webster, PE, lead mechanical engineer on the project. “A lot of effort was put into providing a first-class interior environment requiring minimal energy costs. The LEED process requires a lot of documentation.”
The two-story building is a 9,600-sq.-ft footprint with 12,000 sq. ft of air conditioned area for offices, cafeteria and storage areas. In addition to being designed to LEED NC Version 2 requirements, the design process also adhered to ASHRAE 90.1-1999 for energy efficiency, ASHRAE 55-1995 for thermal comfort for human occupancy, and ASHRAE 62.1-2001 standard for ventilation. The main incentive for the new building was to achieve a substantial energy use reduction when compared with the firm's existing facility in Guaynabo.
Conserving energy
Energy conservation measures incorporated into the design including:
Lighting upgrade: With an illumination-level calculation program, and using minimum illumination level requirements of 50 lumens at all desktops, the total Watts per square foot were reduced by 0.78 W/sq. ft. In addition, all offices and open areas have T8 lamps with high-efficiency tubes and occupancy sensors. All walls have a reflectivity of 75% and ceilings have a reflectivity of 85%.
Insulation upgrade: In addition to the minimum requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-1999, the roof insulation was increased from R19 to R30 with a reflectivity of 92% and the walls from U = 0.58 and no R value requirement to a U = 0.089 and an R11.25.
Condensing unit efficiency upgrade: R410A units with dual speed compressors and 60,000 Btuh capacity with an 11.35 EER were installed (ASHRAE 90.1 minimum requirement is 9.7 EER).
Heat recovery: An energy recovery unit (enthalpy wheel) with an 85% efficiency and capable of handling 125% of the required outside air was included in the system. In addition, the hot water for the reheat coil in the air conditioning units is obtained from desuperheaters for each of four compressors. Solar panels are connected in series for additional reheat capacity.
High efficiency fans: The air conditioning unit has an adjustable-pitch vane axial fan with a static efficiency greater than 75%. ASHRAE 90.1 requires a maximum of 1.7 hp per 1,000 cfm for variable air volume (VAV) systems. The design used 0.675 hp per 1,000 cfm.
Fenestration: Double glass windows with clear glass inside and low-E glass outside with U = 0.26, exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 requirements. In addition, exterior metal shadings cover all glass areas for a substantial improvement on the solar heat gain coefficient requirements.
Exhaust and supply fans: The building exhaust and the outside air make-up use the fans of the energy recovery unit and are both served by variable frequency drives for higher energy efficiencies. Electrical efficiencies
“Our new building consumes so much less electricity than our previous building that the electrical savings alone will pay for the cost of the new building in 10 to 15 years at today's electricity rates,” said Juan S. Quintana, president of Standard Refrigeration. Strategies employed in this project yielded the results for electricity usage shown in Table 1.
Using the LEED-NC Version 2.1 criteria, where receptacles are not considered, the electricity savings is in excess of 70% when compared with ASHRAE 90.1-1999. The building management system of the new facility, along with a separate energy monitoring system, provided the electricity use data shown in Table 2. For the period from July 15, 2006, to July 15, 2007, the results of a comparison between design and actual use are shown in Table 3.
The hours of use and the square footage used in the model defined the difference in design vs. actual use of electricity for the receptacles. The complete building area should have been used in design for the receptacles rather than the air conditioned areas. The building receptacles serve refrigerators, water coolers, vending machines, uninterruptible power supplies, photocopiers, and other electrical units that consume electricity 24 hours per day.
For receptacles design: 12,000 sq. ft x 2,496 h x 0.66 W/sq. ft = 19,768 kWh
For receptacles actual: 19,200 sq. ft x 8,760 h x 0.29 W/sq. ft = 48,776 kWh.
The actual number of hours increased because they had to start up the unit two hours earlier every day, used the unit during the lunch hour, and used it for two additional hours every day in the afternoon, which lead to the difference between design and actual electricity use for the air conditioning system. The number of hours used in the design model is 2,496, but the actual number of hours is 4,400: 4,400/2,496 x 51,885 kWh = 91,464 kWh
Mechanical integration
The air conditioning system consists of an air-handling unit (AHU) with a VAV adjustable-pitch vane axial fan with variable volume boxes to maintain static pressure and variable volume diffusers in every location. The AHU has a DX cooling coil that is vertically split intertwined and has a double circuit, top and bottom. The AHU is a draw-through type, and each coil section closest to the fan has an individual 5 TR (tons of refrigeration) condensing unit connected to it that runs continuously while the fan is operating. Each of the other coil sections of the split coil is connected to a variable speed 5 TR condensing unit and responds to leaving air temperature (set at 53 F).
The variable speed condensing units are not allowed to cycle more than six times per hour. If the building temperature drops below 73 F, the VAV reheat water pump operates to raise the building return air temperature through the reheat coil. This combination of sequences allows the A/C system to maintain 72 F +/-1 F and 50% +/-5% relative humidity.
Outside air is forced into the AHU return plenum by a VAV energy recovery unit that is capable of 125% of the required air for ventilation. The AHU has (MERV 14) 85% efficient permanent filters and 40% throw away pre-filters. It also has UV-C lights in the return air plenum using the intensity recommendations from “Immune Building Systems Technology” (Wladyslaw Jan Kowalski, McGraw-Hill, 2002).
All ductwork in the building is galvanized sheet metal double-wall with solid interior liner and fiberglass insulation sandwiched between duct walls. Additionally, the inner duct liner is covered with a technology that liberates silver ions and prevents bacterial growth inside the ducts.
All VAV diffusers (thermafusers) were placed so as to achieve an air diffusion performance index of 90 or greater. Areas with more than one occupant have a thermostat that can bypass the VAV serving the area and convert the VAV to temperature-controlled for a period of 3 hours. A Web-based monitoring system samples seven different areas of the building for temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOCs, and particulate. This continuous sampling process also reports to the energy management system.
In order to verify the particulate reported by the monitoring system, the engineers brought in a particle counter and the area sampled at random reported as ISO class 8 clean room. The ratio is maintained at a maximum of 1.0 cfm/sq. ft and a minimum of 0.7 cfm/sq. ft by the VAV system. The ratio of exhaust air to intake air is controlled using VAV units in both supply and exhaust fans to achieve positive building pressurization, adequate exhaust control, and minimum ventilation requirements at all times. Only if the carbon monoxide in the building exceeds 800 parts per million will the minimum ventilation rate be exceeded while always maintaining building pressurization.
Not only did the design team create a high-performance facility in terms of energy efficiency, but they also maximized efficiencies with respect to operation and maintenance. The AHU, energy recovery unit, condensing units, desuperheaters, reheat water tank, reheat pump and domestic solar hot water collectors all are located on a single pad outside the building for ease of maintenance. And the commissioning process verified each and every item of the HVAC and plumbing system.
Design uniqueness
“The positive environmental impacts that result from the design of our new building are significant and many,” Quintana said, “including condensing units that use R-410A refrigerant; electrical savings of 70% that substantially reduce carbon dioxide generation; and recycling of materials such as glass, paper, aluminum, cardboard, electrical lamps, printer cartridges, car batteries, oil, cellular phones, sheet metal, car tires, wood pallets, and grass.”
In addition, light pollution is eliminated by keeping the illumination within the site; all storm water is strained for removal of oil residue and some phosphorus; rain water is used for toilets and urinals; and the facility's own sewage treatment plant operates on evapotranspiration, which does not impact acquifer recharging. Storm water is retained in an underground rechargeable tank that slowly releases water during a 72 h timeframe so that water will not affect the level of the creek close to our site.
“We feel that our building is really unique,” Quintana said. “It is located in Puerto Rico without the benefits of using cold outside air for air conditioning at any time during the year. Yet still, we have achieved 750 sq. ft/ton.
“The greatest reward was that project goals were accomplished, and that the owner obtained substancial savings from energy and water measures that were implemented during the design process,” he said. “The coordination between the owner, which in this case was the contractor, and the rest of the design team was a great plus for implementing all the energy savings into the project.”
Because the owners of the facility are in the MEP business themselves, they began this project with a strong notion of what could be achieved, and challenged their design team with the task of far surpassing their existing building in energy use reduction. And the design team did a “platinum” job of meeting the challenge.
End use Design case (kWh) Budget case (kWh)
Electrical receptacles 19,740 19,740
Lighting 29,823 48,232
Space cooling 42,168 116,703
Fans/pumps 9,717 110,028
Date Receptacles First floor Second floor A/C
07/15/2006 40 x 106 W 6 x 106 W 6 x 106 W 44 x 106 W
07/15/2007 88 x 106 W 17 x 106 W 18 x 106 W 83.5 x 106 W
Use Design (kWh) Actual (kWh)
Lighting 29,823 23,000
Receptacles 19,740 48,000
A/C 51,885 83,500
Natural ventilation makes this library coolest building on campus
Architecture rules at this new Judson University building, which houses an expanded library and the division of art, design, and architecture. “Seeking a facility worthy of an evolving architecture program that is seeking accreditation, the university conducted an international design competition,” said Norm Bower, KJWW public relations coordinator. London-based architect Alan Short of Short and Assocs., a pioneer in low-energy, naturally ventilated, and passively cooled buildings, designed the facility.
The design team's challenge was to treat light and humidity issues in a library and art environment, where these factors could seriously damage the contents of the 88,000-sq.-ft building. Dominant energy-conscious features of the building are its photovoltaic, natural ventilation, and natural daylighting systems. Optimizing solar gains in the spring and fall is intended to allow the building to run naturally, with little or no mechanical intervention, for six or more months of the year. The building is expected to earn a USGBC LEED silver rating.
“The greatest challenge as an HVAC engineer on this project was taking the vision of placing a naturally ventilated building in the middle of the Midwest,” said Wade Ross, PE, lead mechanical engineer on the project. “Although the system works well in Northern Europe, we had to not only adapt it to the harsh Midwest climate, but also justify its viability.”
Ross also points to the vital need for teamwork. “Another struggle for the engineering firm was to design an exterior concrete precast structure with multiple openings. Extremely close coordination had to take place between engineering disciplines, architect, and the precast contractor,” he said.
Designing a naturally ventilated building that conformed to local code also challenged the team. For example, when it came to smoke evacuation strategies, “computational fluid dynamics analyses were commissioned to show that smoke could be effectively vented from the structure,” said architect of record Rick McCarthy, AIA, of Burnell Cassell Assocs., Elgin, Ill.
Natural ventilation is probably the most innovative aspect of the design. The building draws cool air at the lower level, circulates it throughout the building through various routes, and exhausts the air through roof terminals. Because of the extreme Midwest climate, a fully natural ventilation system was not possible. Consequently, mechanical engineers designed a hybrid system that minimizes the use of conventional heating and cooling, with operation in the natural mode for as much of the year as possible, but engaging the mechanical mode when the need arises.
There is a significant amount of engineering involved in the design of such a system, and the end product is a building that behaves as a single integrated system.
High school makes the lifecycle grade
Kinard Junior High School's design almost makes you want to go back to school just to check out the building. The facility incorporates thermal advanced insulating systems, daylighting, lighting controls, and geoexchange heat pump technology with exhaust air heat recovery ventilation systems. A building automation system monitors and controls engineered systems throughout the 117,000-sq.-ft building.
“Poudre School District (PSD) is very sensitive to total lifetime cost impacts of the design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements, keeping in mind the total lifecycle costs rather than focusing primarily on the lowest first costs,” said Eric Young, PE, president of EMC Engineers Inc. and lead mechanical engineer on the project.
This was the fourth project that project architect, RB+B Architects, Fort Collins, Colo., designed under PSD sustainability guidelines. EMC was selected to provide three separate areas of service for this project: energy analysis, mechanical design, and commissioning. PSD selected EMC's energy team to help establish energy and sustainable goals for the facility, to create an energy model, and to update the model and advise the design team throughout the design process as relevant architectural and MEP systems features were determined. EMC also was selected for its experience in designing high-performance geoexchange systems. Finally, the firm was responsible for co-commissioning the building, working closely with Architectural Energy Corp., Boulder, Colo.
The district challenged the design team not only to explore ways to make this project even more energy efficient than previous schools, but also to make it exceptionally easy to build and maintain.
“The budget for the entire project was $17.45 million and the building was completed for a total cost of $17.5 million,” Young said. “The cost of the mechanical and plumbing portions of the project, including the geoexchange borefield, was $2.2 million, It came in on budget, equaling $18.86/sq. ft, a very competitive construction cost for this type of system.”
PSD documented the energy performance of this school for one complete year from July 2006 through June 2007, and tracked its performance against another conventional, similar-sized junior high school in the district. Electrical and gas savings can be summarized by the amount of energy used in one year per square foot for each school: Kinnard's 24.8 kBtu/sq. ft/yr compared to 55 kBtu/sq. ft/yr for the other school—an energy cost savings of approximately $30,000 in the first year of operation.
Stu Reeve, energy manager for PSD, echoes the excitement in the performance results. “Based on previous high-performance schools in PSD, we increased our expectations and performance goals for this project and EMC exceeded them all,” Reeve said.
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer
Micoturbines to reduce greenhouse gas in NYC
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that New York City has implemented the country’s first use of microturbine technology, using new microturbine standards.
Bloomberg announced a new rule Dec. 5 that outlines the use and installation of microturbine systems in residential and commercial buildings in New York. This new rule takes effect immediately.
The microturbine technology, and its manufacturer, Capstone Turbine Corp., Chatsworth, Calif., will help New York reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and allow building owners to generate a portion of their own electricity throughout the five boroughs. The rule also will help New York meet its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions citywide by 30% before 2030.
The rule states that microturbine systems approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratory can be installed at residential and commercial buildings in various locations, including within weatherproof enclosures at grade or on roofs and within mechanical rooms built with 2-hour fire-resistance rated walls.
Buildings in New York City generate 79% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. By supplying on-site power generation to buildings, microturbine systems provide an energy-efficient supplement to New York City’s power supply. Building owners now are enabled to take advantage of Capstone’s microturbine technology, which will help the city reach its PlaNYC goal of expanding clean distributed power generation citywide.
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer,
Bloomberg announced a new rule Dec. 5 that outlines the use and installation of microturbine systems in residential and commercial buildings in New York. This new rule takes effect immediately.
The microturbine technology, and its manufacturer, Capstone Turbine Corp., Chatsworth, Calif., will help New York reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and allow building owners to generate a portion of their own electricity throughout the five boroughs. The rule also will help New York meet its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions citywide by 30% before 2030.
The rule states that microturbine systems approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratory can be installed at residential and commercial buildings in various locations, including within weatherproof enclosures at grade or on roofs and within mechanical rooms built with 2-hour fire-resistance rated walls.
Buildings in New York City generate 79% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. By supplying on-site power generation to buildings, microturbine systems provide an energy-efficient supplement to New York City’s power supply. Building owners now are enabled to take advantage of Capstone’s microturbine technology, which will help the city reach its PlaNYC goal of expanding clean distributed power generation citywide.
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer,
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